"Dean, I've brought the person over."
Percy stood at the corner of the third-floor corridor, his voice tinged with barely concealed nervousness.
He bowed slightly, his forehead still damp with fine sweat.
Professor McGonagall nodded. "Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Weasley. Go on with your work."
"Yes, Professor."
Percy turned and left as if granted a pardon, his steps slightly hurried, as if staying there for even a second longer would mean being swept into some kind of storm he couldn't comprehend.
Only Draco and Professor McGonagall remained in the corridor.
Professor McGonagall's sharp eyes stared unabashedly at Draco, as if trying to see right through him.
"Let's go," McGonagall said calmly.
Draco nodded and followed her.
The two arrived in front of a giant monster statue.
The statue was menacing, with a ferocious expression, as if it might pounce at any moment and tear anyone who approached it to pieces.
Professor McGonagall stopped and softly recited the command, " Cockroach Clusters."
Suddenly, the monster statue leaped off the wall, revealing a smooth stone surface behind it.
The stone surface slowly opened like a door, revealing a narrow entrance.
"Go inside," Professor McGonagall said.
Draco stepped inside and found it to be a narrow elevator.
The elevator slowly ascended, the stone walls gently passing by, making a soft scraping sound.
"Once you're up there, don't say anything out of the ordinary," Professor McGonagall's voice rang out in the small space. "Unless something happens, no one can take you away."
Draco looked at her with some surprise.
"What's wrong?" Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't Mr. Malfoy consider himself a member of Gryffindor?"
Draco paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Hello, Head of House McGonagall."
Professor McGonagall snorted, seemingly quite satisfied with the form of address. " Mr. Malfoy, now that you've joined Gryffindor, you must abide by all of Gryffindor."
After a pause, her gaze became more serious. " Gryffindor values action. If you do well in Charms, work hard on the Quidditch Pitch, and keep quiet in the common room... people will see."
"So you must put away your sarcasm and boasting, and let your wand and your achievements speak for themselves. This is the only way you can earn some... tolerance, and perhaps even respect."
Draco couldn't help but laugh.
It seems Professor McGonagall is still Professor McGonagall.
Regardless of who the students are, she has only one standard—ability and discipline.
The elevator quickly reached the Seventh Floor.
The door slowly opened.
Dumbledore had been waiting there for a long time.
Besides old Den Lucius, Dobby also came.
The House-elf stood in the corner, its ears drooping, its eyes filled with unease.
Lucius stood up when he saw Draco enter.
" Albus, Professor McGonagall," Lucius said calmly, "Then we'll be leaving now."
Professor McGonagall frowned. " Mr. Malfoy, Draco Malfoy has classes this afternoon."
"I know, Professor McGonagall," Lucius said calmly.
"Will he be back in time for class this afternoon?" Professor McGonagall pressed.
"Well, that depends on whether we can resolve the issue," Lucius replied indifferently.
"Is there anything more important than the education of students?" Professor McGonagall's voice turned cold.
"I cannot tell you." Lucius bowed slightly, his tone carrying an undeniable arrogance.
"Then I'm sorry I can't let you take the student away." Professor McGonagall stood firm.
Lucius knew that, no matter what reason he had, he could not forcibly take a student away from Hogwarts.
These are the rules and regulations of the magic school.
If he had known this would happen, he shouldn't have let Draco come to Hogwarts.
He must have been influenced.
However, Lucius had already devised a plan before coming.
"Alright, Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall," he said slowly, with a hint of resignation.
"I admit that, faced with the rules and regulations of Hogwarts, a father's concerns and the traditions of an ancient family seem insignificant."
Lucius paused, then changed the subject. "We're arguing about forms, procedures, and authoritative certifications, but we're all overlooking the most important and fundamental question—where is the best environment for Draco?"
Professor McGonagall's eyes turned cold. " Mr. Malfoy, someone as outstanding as you graduated from Hogwarts, is there something wrong with that?"
"No," Lucius shook his head, "However, the Sorting Hat might have been biased in its sorting process. What if Draco were to join Gryffindor—"
His voice lowered, tinged with deliberate worry. "The people there might target him, see him as a freak, a spy; even his former 'friends' now look at him with hatred."
"And his current 'classmates,' would they really accept a Malfoy? Isn't that a form of mental torture?"
"I assure you, Mr. Malfoy," Professor McGonagall said calmly, " Gryffindor House will treat every student fairly and justly."
"That's too absolute, Professor McGonagall," Lucius chuckled. "You've been a professor here for so many years, don't you know what happened to a Malfoy in Gryffindor?"
He turned to Dumbledore, his tone suddenly becoming "sincere": " Albus, you've always advocated respecting individual choice, and Professor McGonagall, you also emphasize fairness."
"Then why can't we listen fairly to the child's own wishes? If Draco wants to leave this place that causes him pain, what right do you have to forcibly detain him? Isn't this just another form of tyranny?"
Draco stared at Lucius in disbelief.
I thought to myself: Six!
Was Laodeng really that powerful in the original story?
His words, his logic, his shifts in stance—he perfectly embodied the image of a father who "does what's best for the child."
Now, the pressure was completely on Draco.
I was actually hoping to just sit back and watch the drama unfold.
Professor McGonagall tried to persuade Draco, but Dumbledore stopped her by raising his hand.
" Draco," Dumbledore looked at him, "Are you ready?"